The Brighton EXPRESS, having arrived at WATERLOO, some FORTY MINUTES
LATE, the Duke and his newly-made DUCHESS at once proceeded to HIS WIFE,
Celeste's APARTMENT in THE HOUSE IN SPRING GARDENS, where dinner awaited
them.
"SWEETHEART," said the Duke, "you look a DREAM in that COSTUME; to-day a
DUCHESS OF FEW CLOTHES, TO-MORROW, of many: do you know, I feel we are
like THE CHILDREN WHO RAN AWAY: I really don't deserve all this
HAPPINESS: WHEN A MAN MARRIES or the woman goes IN SEARCH OF A HUSBAND,
they naturally have GREAT EXPECTATIONS for a HAPPY LIFE, and I know we
are not going to be disappointed."
"And I am going to be a SUCCESSFUL WIFE," said the Duchess.
"But to RETURN to our talk about your parents: I must find this so-called
NURSE NORAH; I am convinced that you are not the DAUGHTER of Anderson
Crow."
"Of course I'm not, JACK, but whose daughter am I? I am IN THE DARK; when
JUST A LITTLE GIRL, I was sent to school at STRATFORD-ON-AVON where on
SATURDAY MORNINGS, I was visited by a woman who called herself MY AUNT
JEANNETTE, and spoke of me as A DAUGHTER OF THE RICH; MY SCHOOL LIFE
taught me THE VALUE OF COURAGE, but played HAVOC with my disposition: the
HOUR OF CONFLICT had to come, of course: and then DIMBIE AND I ran away
to TOWN and I soon became one of THE PLAYERS O'LONDON, and you know the
REST."
"I shall certainly see YARBOROUGH THE PREMIER: he is familiar with LONDON
of twenty...."
"His Grace is wanted on the TELEPHONE," said the maid.
"Yes: Jameson: NO: very well: GREAT CATHERINE: very well."
"I must leave you for a while, my dear; SANDY wants to see me and
Inspector Morgan is coming to my chambers; Jameson says something
important: ALL ABOUT ME: JUST FANCY: so GOOD BYE SWEETHEART, you are
going to be A JOY FOREVER, and these are going to be GREAT DAYS for us;
LIFE IS A DREAM really."
After leaving SPRING Gardens, the Duke, who did not consider WALKING A
FINE ART, proceeded slowly along KENSINGTON road, ON THE LOOKOUT for
FAMILIAR FACES, and at THE STREET CALLED STRAIGHT, was stopped by a sign
NO THOROUGHFARE, where a subway was under construction, and was accosted
by a bibulous INDIVIDUAL, who had just waded through a mortar box, and
who said:
"Greash Scott: ole BOY" said THE MAN WITH THE IRON SHOES, swinging his
GOLD HEADED CANE, "who'd thought--hic--it'd snowed so hard in thish one
spot: Sir: wantchew t'know, I'm fren' of Sir Jaff'y Gotdough: an' he's
dead."
The Duke had proceeded as far as Addison Road station, when a hansom
pulled up towards him, and he immediately recognized the occupant as his
cousin the Lady Evelyn, who said--
"Jack: I've been watching for you: Jameson said you were in SPRING
Gardens, but preferred not to give the number: said it was NORTH OF
FIFTY-THREE: jump in, please; I know it is not GOOD FORM FOR WOMEN to be
driving ALONE in a public vehicle, and I feel like one of THE GIRL ROUGH
RIDERS."
"Well; MY LADY CAPRICE, I WAS THINKING OF YOU; what's on HER LADYSHIP'S
CONSCIENCE?"
"Jack: I want this to be A CHRONICLE OF FRIENDSHIPS: I know you will ask
BY WHAT AUTHORITY, am I interesting myself in your affairs, but do let us
be COMRADES, let me tell you that the Major has been telling me about
your FRIEND, THE CHORUS LADY, THE IDOL OF THE TOWN, as she is called--now
keep your temper--please, only nice things to say--I AM convinced that
she is a lovely and remarkable girl, and not a mere FLUFFY RUFFLES: the
Major says she is not the daughter of THE ADVENTURER, Crow."
"But, my dear EVELYN, you of all others; you are THE ONE WOMAN to
interest yourself: it is amazing."
"No sarcasm, JACK, you know I care lots for you, FOR SUCH IS LIFE, and if
you really want to marry the girl, you may count on me: but I came to
tell you, that ONE DAY, some time ago, ON OUR STREET, my motor ran down a
WOMAN; of course you will say the INEVITABLE, WOMAN IN THE WAY, and
thinking her only stunned ordered her carried into the HOUSE, and called
THE DOCTOR, and after an examination, DR. DAVID ordered absolute quiet
and forbade her immediate removal: for three days, the woman raved about
THE MALEFACTOR, Celeste, Cammerleigh, Crow, and THE FRUIT OF THE TREE:
ordinarily, one does not give these ravings a second thought for
delirious persons seem to have A PERFECT PASSION for raving ON ANYTHING,
but the things next to their HEART, but the names struck me very
forcibly; is it not curious THE WAY THINGS HAPPEN; NIGHT AND MORNING,
from NINE UNTIL SIX-THIRTY, she kept it up: I think, at the time of the
accident, the WOMAN was being followed, as Denis has seen the same man
watching THE HOUSE: the woman finally recovered and upon being
interrogated, admitted that she expected to need a large sum of MONEY,
and asked if I would be willing to give two thousand pounds for her
SECRET: of course I agreed, with a string attached, meaning of course,
that being a woman, you have a perfect right to change YOUR MIND,
whereupon, she said that when I receive a box containing a red lily, I
must at once visit the PRINCESS Dehra: TO-MORROW, I shall tell you what I
have discovered at the PRINCESS Dehra's."
"Truly, EVELYN, you're a wonder: I believe you are going to help this
LITTLE DUKE, as you helped LITTLE ROB ROBIN: the deed has been done, I
have paid THE PRICE OF LOVE: I was MARRIED at BRIGHTON this morning."
"I am very glad, JACK; and I WISH YOU JOY: I KNOW she is a dear girl....
By-the-bye, I am still undecided about becoming SIR JAFFRAY'S WIFE: I had
hoped to make something out of him, but...."
"About how much: a million?" forgetting, for the moment, that he had just
heard of the death of this unfortunate individual.
"Sarcastic again, Jack: but here we are at Brook street: driver: No.
SEVENTEEN Grosvenor square: Good-night, Jack; come to see me TO-MORROW,
and trust to my JUDGMENT."